The Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo opened in Tokyo’s revitalized Marunouchi district on March 2nd of this year. This hotel is committed to offering guests in Tokyo the same level of service and hospitality that Shangri-La is known for at all of their properties. The Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo occupies the top 11 floors of the Marunouchi Trust Tower Main, a 37-storey building located next to Tokyo Station, offering spectacular views of Tokyo and Tokyo Bay. The hotel is indeed breathtaking, featuring over 2,000 artworks throughout the structure and more than 50 distinct chandeliers designed and hand built by Lasvit of the Czech Republic including a spectacular 33 foot long chandelier illuminating the grand staircase connecting levels 27 through 29.
This centrally located hotel offers 202 well-appointed suites including six extraordinary suites. The rooms are large and all feature free broadband Internet access, satellite and cable television and in-house movie channels. For the business traveler, each room has a full-size executive writing desk, and direct-dial international telephone service with voice mail. When it is time to get some sleep, the Shangri-La presents feather duvets and pillows, 300-threadcount cotton linens and also offers pillows with hypoallergenic options.
The Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo is also pleased to offer their distinguished Horizon Club services, available to Horizon Club members. Guests staying in the 37 Horizon Club rooms may enjoy an elevated level of service with exclusive amenities and privileges including a dedicated concierge and express check-in and checkout. Horizon Club guests may also make use of the private Horizon Club Lounge where they can enjoy a wide selection of fine foods and beverages for breakfast and cocktails in the evening. Venturing out of your room, you will find that the hotel has two fantastic restaurants as well as a Lobby Lounge that offers afternoon tea and live entertainment. Piacere, the hotel’s signature Italian restaurant is located on the 28th floor and offers views of Tokyo Station, the Marunouchi area and the Imperial Gardens. The restaurant lives up to it’s namesake, Piacere, which in Italian means “with pleasure” with delicious Italian fare for the discerning diner. Chef Paolo Pelosi apprenticed with Chef Gaetano Trovato at Arnolfo Ristorante in Seina, Italy, a two-starred Michelin restaurant. Pelosi also worked with Andrea Accordi and Massimillano Basone at the celebrated Onice Lounge and Restaurant in Florence. Chef Pelosi is known for his contemporary Italian cooking and favoring simple dishes that best bring out the flavors of the natural ingredients. Piacere offers authentic, chic Italian cuisine and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast features an a la carte menu which offers Japanese, Asian, Western and European dishes and a full selection of meals including American and continental breakfasts. For lunch and dinner, course menus as well as a la carte service is available, complimented by excellent wines from around the world.
Located on the 29th floor, Nadaman, the hotel’s Japanese restaurant is part of the well-known Nadaman restaurant group that has served kaiseki-style cuisine to dignitaries, royalty and gourmands since 1830. The restaurant is presided over by Chef Takehiko Yoshida who joined Nadaman in 1990, working at Nadaman in Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong as well as Nadaman’s Imperial Hotel branch. This restaurant offers fine Japanese cuisine prepared by expert chefs in an elegant, refined space. With a teppanyaki space, sushi counter, private rooms and an extensive a la carte menu, Nadaman will give guests the very best in Japanese dining for both lunch and dinner.
The Lobby Lounge is a luxurious, gracious space that features a refined atmosphere. The Lobby Lounge serves a unique variety of international cuisine from Malaysian snacks like sautéed chicken and spring rolls to more lavish oriental courses and traditional continental breakfasts. The Lobby Lounge also has an extensive selection of fine teas and coffees to compliment their mouth-watering array of light snacks. The Lobby Lounge is open for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and cocktails and is the perfect place for a pre-dinner drink or late-night cocktails while enjoying live music.
To add to the world-class rooms and restaurants, the hotel also features a fully equipped, state of the art health club and spa. The health club, which opens early and closes late, features “Life Fitness” exercise machines and a heated indoor swimming pool.
CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La operates at 13 Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts properties in Thailand, China, the Philippines and other countries and since their inception CHI treatments have received numerous awards including the Baccarat Asian Spa Awards. CHI Tokyo features six private relaxing private spa suites, including a treatment suite for two, and an extensive menu of signature CHI therapies as well as Tokyo-exclusive therapies. CHI’s treatments embody traditional Asian healing philosophies and are designed to restore balance to both the mind and the body. CHI draws its inspiration from the origins of the Shangri-La legend in the Himalayan Mountains and revives and recreates ancient secrets and treatments to provide a spa concept that fuses ancient Asian and Japanese healing practices, concepts and rituals.
The name CHI comes from traditional Chinese philosophy which holds that chi is the universal life force that governs well-being and personal vitality. In order to maintain good health, it is thought that chi must flow unimpeded throughout the body and if it is blocked, illness will follow. Developed by an expert team, CHI’s signature therapies are based on the Five Element Theory, in which Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water are in balance to yin energy in the body. The interiors at CHI are designed to include local architecture and materials while featuring Himalayan artwork and accents to create the unique CHI experience.
The treatment menu at CHI offers approximately 30 specialized facials, body works, body therapies, body wraps and water therapies. The menu also includes spa “journeys” which are extended spa treatments, which last for as long as five and a half hours, allowing guests to indulge their senses, soothe their body and revitalize their spirit. The Serenity Ritual is a half-day spa that combines Himalayan Bath Therapy, Mountain Tsampa Rub and Revitalizing Essential Wrap, followed by a Himalayan Healing Stones Treatment. The special “journeys” offered at CHI are sure to relax and revitalize even the most world-weary traveler.
The Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo also offers wedding services and their “Heavenly Weddings at Shangri-La” ceremonies are designed to provide the ultimate “heavenly” experience in all facets of the services celebrating one of life’s major events. Shangri-La’s renowned hospitality, fine cuisine and quality facilities, combined with top-notch professionals will ensure the most joyful and memorable wedding for the couple, their families and guests. Featuring the highest venue where weddings are performed in Tokyo, level 27 includes “The Pavilion” a nondenominational chapel overlooking the city as well as the “Shangri-La Ballroom” where reception parties can be held for up to 180 guests. A beautiful grand staircase, exquisite chandeliers and bold carpets will ensure memorable photographic opportunities.
“Heavenly Weddings at Shangri-La” incorporates both Western and Japanese dresses provided by New York-based designer Junko Yoshioka. The bridal collections of Junko Yoshioka combine contemporary design with the enduring elegance of haute couture. Her signature style features sweeping silhouettes, asymmetrical cuts and unique details.
“Heavenly Weddings at Shangri-La” offers beauty services which include hair, makeup and salon treatments by Hatsuko Endo, one of Japan’s leading wedding service providers and flower arrangements by Nicolai Bergmann, one of the top foreign floral artists in the country.
The hotel’s experienced wedding concierge works closely with the couple to create a wedding event suited to each individual couple. Multiple ceremonies and parties do not take place simultaneously and the wedding facilities are all located on one floor ensuring privacy for the couple and their guests.
The Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo is truly a magnificent hotel offering the best in luxurious rooms, fine restaurants, services and amenities. With their impeccable service and hospitality, the Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo can be expected to continue to build its reputation as a world-renowned hotel and a premier destination of choice in Tokyo.
By James Souilliere
From WINING & DINING in TOKYO #35
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